I wanted giant robots punching giant monsters. I was not disappointed.

Rating: 9/10 (1 November 2013)

Apart from a single moment of science-dumb that jarred loose my suspension of disbelief (analog vs. digital), this movie was everything I expected. I expected excellent, pulse-pounding action. I expected giant robots that felt weighty, and moved like robots. I expected monsters to get punched in the face by those giant robots in increasingly inventive and novel ways. I was not disappointed.
The effects work was exceptional. The completely physical cockpits did great service to the film, allowing for much more depth of reaction from the actors. The decision to avoid motion capture for the Jaegers lent a feeling of real weight and ponderous momentum that the fluidity of human movement would have lacked. The sound work was superb, the impacts could be felt through the bass- and the soundtrack was just as good at getting the heart pumping.
I fully intend to have a copy of this film playing in my home at all times. Even while I sleep, so that my dreams also include giant robots punching giant monsters. Forever.